Soldering-iron.



N0- 826.976. PATENTED JULY 24, 1906. J. F. WAGNER & J. H. WESTON.

SOLDER'ING IRON; APPLIOATION FILED FEB. '1. 190a.

m m E W Alzomey THE NORRIS PETERS cm, WASHINGTON, D. c,

UNITED STATES v PATENT JOHN F. WAGNER ANDJAMES H. WESTON, OF TAMAQUA, PENNSYLVANIA.

SOLDERlNG-IRON.

.im-saame.

Specification of Letters .iPatent.

Patented July 24, 1906.

Application and February 7, 1906. semi No. 299.924.

invented new and useful Improvements in Soldering-Irons, of whichthefollowing is a specification.

This invention relatesto improvements in soldering-ironaand has particular relation .to devices of this character in which the solder is contained within the iron.

Theinvention has for its main object the provision .ofa soldering-iron which can be readily used when held in any position-and retained under the control of the operator without liability of the solder escaping from the iron to the injury of the operator. To obtain this result, the operator is relieved vfrom any requirement of manipulation of the .solder, he being required only to controlathe passage of the solder to the tipas respects time and amount, the solder being held under igressure with a constant tendency to pass om itsreservoir.

A further object is to provide a construction which is simple and efficient in opera- .tion,-not liable to become disarranged, and

which can be manufactured at a comparatively low cost.

To these and other ends, the nature of whichwill be readily perceived as the invention is hereinafter disclosed, said invention .consists in the improved construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully dearticularly ointed out in the appended c aims, and il ustrated in the accomnying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view in elevation of a soldering-iro'n constructed in accordance with our invention. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view. of the same.

Similar reference characters indicate similar arts in all of the views.

T e soldering-iron shown consists, substantially, of the head, body portion, and

handle. The head 5 is of the usual configuration, having the tip 6, and is formed hollow,

as shown. Its rear end is internally screwthreadedfor attachment to the tubular portion 8 of the body ortion of the iron, as shown in Fig. 2. T e head is further provided with a passage-way 7, formed, as shown, .for the passage of the solder from. the solder- .receptacle to a pointadjacent to the tip 6.

The body portion of the iron consists. of the tubular portion 8, forming with the hollow portion ofthe head the solder-receptacle, the cap 9, screw-threadedto thelower endof the solder-receptacle and having a central 0 ening 10 for a purpose-hereinafter descri ed, and atubular portion 11, screwethreadedato an annular PI'OJBGtlOIl carried by. thecap 9.

The handle portion consists of the.collar 12, screw-threaded to the lower end of the tubular portion 11, said collar-.carrying a U- shaped handle portion 13 anda stra portion 14, extending across the openend ofthe portion 11, the strap 14.having an opening 15.

The mechanism for feeding the solderand controlling its feed is as follows: Withinthe solder rece tacle or reservoiris mounteda piston or p unger 16, adapted to reciprocate ongitudinally of the receptacle. The pistonhead may be of any suitable material adapted to withstand heatand ismounted ,onthe end of a hollow stem 17, which extends through the opening 10. of the cap,.thetub.ular portion 11, the opening 15'of the .stra and into the open portion of the handle. it a suitable point, approximately midway of its length, is secured across-bar 18,. (hereinafter termed the "lockin-g+bar,) which extends laterally through slots 19, formed longitudinally in the tubular portion 11. A

collar is mounted on the stem 17 below the locking-bar 18, and between said collar 20 and the strap 14 is mounted a spring 21, as best shown in Fig. 2. As the stem 17 is adapted to reciprocate freely itwill be readily understood that the spring 21 will constantly exert a pressureon thepiston to move it toward the head 5, and any contents of the solder-receptacle will be subjected to the same pressure. To permit of the piston being held retracted, as when it is desired to renew the solder in the solder-receptacle, a lateral recess 22 is formed in the tubular portion 11, extending from each of the slots 19, one .of said recesses being shown in Fig. 1. When the stem is movedrearward by the movement of the locking-bar toward the handle, compressing the spring 21, said springan'd the piston can be held' in that positionby slightly turning the locking-bar and piston, so as to causethe said bar to engage the recesses 22. .In this positionthe pistonis at the lower end of the solder-rece tacle, and .a removal of the head 5 permits oi the recharging of the receptacle.

shaped lever 25, which is ivotally mounted, 'within the handle, one en of the lever bein formed to be engaged by nuts 28 on the ro 23, the'other end having a projection 26,

which extends through an opening 27 in the handle. The position of the lever 25 relative to the rod 23 is secured by the nuts 28, mounted on the rod 23. Between the lower nut 28 and the U-shaped portion of the handle is mounted a spring 29, which tends to keep the end of the rod 23 within the passage-way 7, thereby closing the receptacle. The rod 23 is moved in the opposite direction by a slight pressure placed on the projection 26, thus openin the passage-way 7 and permitting the sol er to escape. By this construction it will-be seen that the solder-receptacle is normally closed against the escape of solder, permitting the iron to be moved in any direction without liability of the operator being injured or damaged by the molten solder. Furthermore, by holding the solder under constant pressure it will be retained at the heated end of the receptacle and not subjected to chilling action such as would result were the solder permitted to move backward in the receptacle after the delivery of solder through the passage-way 7. As the heated portion of the iron is the head, it will 'be obvious that it the solder is retained constantly in contact with the head the chilling action will not result, thereby dispensing with the use of a large soldering-head.

further advantage in the use of the constant pressure on the solder is the fact that there is no liability of the entrance of air or acid such as might result were the piston withdrawn after each delivery'of solder, the pressure practically sealing the passage-Way against the entrance of air or acid by maintalnin the solder in close contact with the hea This exerting of pressure is in no wise interfered with by the presence of the rod 23 Within the solder-receptacle, and the location of the spring 21 outside of the receptacle prevents any liability of its being affected by the use of the iron, and owing to the inability of the solder to escape excepting when the pasjsage-Way 7 is open and the fact that there is a constant pressure being exerted to force the solder from its receptacle it will be readily understood that the iron can be used with perfect safety in operating on overhead work,

" the quantity of solder discharged being entirely under the control of the operator, who is required only to release the pressure exerted on the projection 26, thereby permitting the passage-way to be closed by the action of the spring 29.

It will be understood that after being charged by the insertion of the solder in the solder-receptacle, the solder being, if desired, in the form of a stick with a longitudinal opening to permit of the passage of the rod 23 the heating of the head will cause the solder to melt so that the spring will cause it to accumulate in the head ready for use, as above indicated. A slight pressure on the projection 26 by the operator will permit the desired quantity to escape, a release of the projection serving to cut ofi the supply.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new is- 1. In a soldering-iron, a soldering head and tip, a solder receptacle or reservoir in rear of said tip, said head having a passage-way to permit the escape of solder from said reservoir to, the tip, a tension device for exerting pressure on the solder within the reservoir, and a valve, normally closed, for controlling said passage-way.

2. In a soldering-iron, a soldering head and tip, a solder receptacle or reservoir in rear of" said reservoir for exerting pressure on the solder in the reservoir, and a valve, normally closed, for controlling the passage of solder through said passage-way.

3. In a soldering-iron, a hollow soldering head and tip, a solder receptacle or reservoir in rear of said tip, said reservoir being normally closed, said head having a passageway to permit the escape of sol er from said reservoir to the tip, means for retaining the solder in close contact with the inner walls of said head adjacent to said passage-way to prevent the entrance of air or acid there through, and means for controlling the passage of solder through said passage-way.

4. In a soldering-iron, a soldering head and tip, a solder receptacle or reservoir in rear of said tip, said reservoir consisting of a tubular portion secured to said head and a piston located therein, a passage-way formed in said head for the escape of solder to said tip, a spring for exerting pressure on said piston to retain the solder in juxtaposition to said passage-way, said spring being located without the reservoir, a locking-bar for the piston, and a valve for controlling said passage-way.

5. In a soldering-iron, the combination with a solder receptacle or reservoir having an outlet-opening, of a spring-actuated pis ton or plunger for exerting pressure on the solder within the receptacle, said plunger being designed to effect the discharge of solder from said reservoir, said plunger comprisin ahollow rod or spindle, a piston thereon, an a rod passed through said spindle and piston for regulating the flow of metal through said outlet-opening.

6. In a soldering-iron, a solder-reservoir, an outlet-opening leading therefrom, a piston or plunger mounted to'reciprocat'e in said reservoir, and a valve for controllin the flow of solder through said opening, sai plunger and valve being both spring-actuated.

7. In a soldering-iron, a solder-reservoir, an outlet-op ening leading therefrom, a springactuated piston or plunger mounted to reciprocate in said reservoir, said piston normally exerting pressure on the solder to discharge it through said opening, a spring-actuated valve for controlling said opening, said valve being normally closed, anda lever for moving said valve to permit of the passa e of solder, whereby the discharge of solder from said reservoir is controlled solely by the movement of said lever.

In testimony whereof we have affixed our signatures in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

JOHN F. WAGNER. JAMES H. WESTON. Witnesses:

SAMUEL R. BEARD, FRANKLIN SCHULTZ. 

